open Friendship strikes in the Crystal Empire! (SOL/adv, open, drop-in/drop-out)

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

Ember happily nodded as the waitress took her order, sounded really nice, everything around here was called crystal this or crystal that, but it did make everything sound better.  

 

@@Raven Rawne,

 

The Kirin looked up to the new voice talking to her, she started for a moment to jog her memory. "... Oh... Oh you're the mare from the train station! Yes the hotel is stunning and yes I found my way around, the city is very easy to negotiate. I haven't even gotten lost yet." She smiled. "I was meaning to visit your shop soon, but glad I stopped here you'd over there and been closed I take it? Since you are here and not there." 

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Mentis Soliloquy

 

Crystal nodded with a smile. "Told you that this us the only place where, if you keep walking in circles,  you'll get where you need to." She glanced at her saddlebags by the other table.  "I dropped in here for a snack before coming back home,  yeah. My shop is too fresh to attract any potential apprentices, so I work alone. Although, if you bounced off the closed door, I put a notebook there so that any customer could write they want my services and I go to them to collect the order.  I figured out I won't loose that much business when I'm not there."

 

The mare became a but self conscious over her rambling. "Aaaanyways, would it be okay if I bothered you for a bit? Sane visitors are becoming just as rare as Aurora Borealis crystals these days..."

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Raven Rawne, @@Mentis Soliloquy, @@Moon Dancer.,

 

As soon as the orders were ready, Serendipity took them over to the table where the three were all there, two sitting and one asking if she could sit there. She did think about using her magic to take all three together, but reluctantly decided against it. The way that things were going today, she'd end up turning the meals into pink taffy or something and she didn't want to take that risk, so she brought out the orders separately; Crystal's first, followed by Ember's and finally, the strange mare's.

 

"Here are your meals, I hope that you enjoy!" Serendipity chirped.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

@@Raven Rawne,

 

"No, no you're not bothering me, I am enjoying our little conversation." Giving the mare a smile of genuine intent...

 

@@Moon Dancer.,

 

She looks up to this unknown mare. "If you like I don't see any harm with more at the table."

 

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

"Thank you for the food, there miss." Ember eyes her meal before digging in without much other on her mind happily munching on the Crystal Corn, it was rather lovely.

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Mentis Soliloquy,

 

The crystal mare nodded enthusiastically. "Great! I'll just get my bags and be right back."

 

She was really happy it went so smooth. The mare grabed her crystal laden saddlebags and lugged them next to her new seat, then hopped on it with a sheepish smile. "Fresh batch of crystals, straight from the cave hehe. I cut costs picking up naturals. Wanna see some? No worries, they're clean."

 

Crystal Clear noticed the unicorn mare, the one she had... mixed impressions about, approach and ask for a seat. She didn't want to be rude, so she nodded after the mare she met at the station. Moment later, their orders started coming in.

 

She glanced at her order, and everything looked perfectly fine. She nodded at the waitress with a smile. "Thanks! Guess I'll drop by more often, that salad really does look great..." Taking a glance at the ravenous unicorn, she frowned a tad, but returned her attention to the other mare. "Oh, I guess I didn't pack my manners when I was leaving home. My name is Crystal Clear."

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

@@Moon Dancer., @@Raven Rawne,  

 

Ember somewhat devoured the meal in front of her, a few moments later when Crystal was talking about new gems she had recently found. That made Ember stop and perk her ears up. "Oh what kind of gems did you find?" She asked that with half a mouth full so if it came out as intended was to be seen. 

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Mentis Soliloquy,

 

The crystal mare seemed the only one who didn't nosedive into her meal, but wather took a measured bite of her salad, to get aquainted with the citrus taste. "Hmm, it does taste great... Ah, right, my treasures!" - she reached down to the bag, looked for a moment inside it and fished out two crystals, oblong and with clear cut lines. They were just two hooves long, nothing spectacular in size, although...

 

"The red one is called Dragon Breath. It has a fiery look to it, especially if it contains some residues. This one is clean, so the color is even all around. Now the second one is a rare find. I even thought about keeping it for decoration. It's an Aurora Borealis crystal. Notice the veins? How it changes in shades of blues, greens, even some red under the light? Only the best specialists can replicate it, so most are natural. Kinda pricey too, come to think of it..." - The crystal mare weighted the crystal in her hoof, incase the other mare wanted to take them for closer inspection.

 

@@Moon Dancer.

 

Crystal Clear turned her attention to the unicorn, who decided to say something, after taking out her plates. She ground her teeth a little at the bluntness, but decided to keep it civil. "I'm Crystal Clear. If you had a plot of land and the right of settlement, I could build you a home, in a few months. Otherwise, the Empire has a few hotels built for the Equestrian Games, The, uhh, sorry, didn't catch your name...: - she was referring to the mare she met at the train station - "Our companion stays in a hotel herself, the Northern Star.  Pretty decent if I may say so." She smiled slightly to the mare who's name she didn't know yet.

Edited March 8, 2017 by Raven Rawne

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

@@Raven Rawne, @@Moon Dancer.

 

Ember looked at both the stones and was rather impressed by both the finds, this other mare was getting on her nerves however. She looked to this unicorn. "Ok that is not possible everypony and their dog knows about the Equestrian Games. Also you have a name your mom did not call you 'The Mare' when she brought you into this world." She in a frustrated manner akin to a grunt.

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Moon Dancer.,@@Mentis Soliloquy,

 

Crystal couldn't help but chuckle in amuselemt, but then meeped slightly and lowered her ears. "Uhh, what she said. I've read that the Games are hundreas of years old tradition. Less than a thousand though, or I'd be there, heheh."

 

The crystal mare decded to shut up and diverted her attention to her meal. She laid down the Aurora Borealis on the table between her and the unusual looking unicorn. Something told her not to put it within hoof reach of the other mare... It was worth a buck, after all.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

@@Raven Rawne, @@Moon Dancer.

 

"That still doesn't actually cut it, if you were a, well what a neglected child, your mom still would of given you a name. If you ended up in a Foster home they'd of given you a name, do your friends call you 'The mare'? If we become friends, is that what I call you? How'd you suppose I shorten that name?"

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Moon Dancer., @@Mentis Soliloquy,

 

Crystal Clear decided that maybe she showed up in the wrong place at the wrong time. She saw the unicorn put down the Dragon Breath crystal, but decided not to draw attention to her as the mares argued. That is, until she had to take a sip of her tea - the salad was tasty, but also a bit sour. So she had to reach out for the teacup, which was rather far away from her bowl at that time. Feeling she was noticed, and after taking a sip, she glanced at both mares with a nervous smile, then chipped in.

 

"Uh, maybe "M"? Really, why are you two arguing over a name? Or lack thereof." - Crystal took a sip to quickly gather her thoughts. "Can we just talk normally before the staff decides we should take our picnic elsewhere?"

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

@@Raven Rawne, @@Moon Dancer.

 

Ember had a difficult time suppressing a growl at her frustration. "Fine we'll skip the conversation." She flailed her forelegs in the air in anoyance her dragon like anger showing. She sat back in her chair her tail flicking in an annoyed manner akin to a cat.

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Mentis Soliloquy, @@Moon Dancer.,

 

The crystal pony was between a rock and a hard place, it seemed. And she hasn't even finished her salad!

She glanced at "The Mare" and chuckled humorlessly. "Or something, right."

 

Crystal Clear sighed and slumped her shoulders at her predicament. Frakking visitors. The cherry mare tossed the crystals back into her saddlebags, and looked up at the unusual unicorn first, since she was visibly upset. "Are you alright? I didn't want to ruin our first day in town... You're still welcome to my shop, if you're interested."

 

Then she turned back to the other unicorn. "Guess I won't die if I tell a bit about myself..." - a bite of salad later, she continued. "Name's Crystal Clear, or Master Clear, if you want to use the Guild title. I own a crystal mending workshop, and can do nearly everything out of it..." - the mare ran a hoof over the table, it was rather well done, actually - "Whatever you lay your eye on in the city, if it's made of crystal, a pony like me did it. Well, except for the Crystal Heart. It's unique, and nopony knows how it was created."

 

She decided to take a few more bites of that salad, just in case she had to vacate the premises. Wasting good chow should be a criminal offense.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

@@Raven Rawne, @@Moon Dancer.

 

Ember grumbled a little more before responding, it was clear she was still a bit miffed but not in any way angry enough to be violent. "I'd like to come past your shop later yeah Crystal, I had planned on it." She went back to eating, she was not sure what to even say to the other unicorn. 

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Mentis Soliloquy, @@Moon Dancer.,

 

The cherry mare nodded respectfully to her angered companion. Been a while since she invited somepony new upstairs. As to the other mare...

 

"It's called The Guild of Masters of Crystal, but we just call it the Guild. Other trades disbanded their organisations, willingly or under external pressure, but my trade pretty much requires keeping it. Keeping the trade secret away from uninitiated is the main goal, but in these hard times, having a structured environment for all the shops in the city to come together and discuss matters is important if the Empire is to remain Crystal. Thankfully the Princess passed an Act on just that, so there won't be any Equestrian buildings in here anytime soon..." - The mare seemed nearly offended by a thought of seeing a house of brick and mortar under the shadow of the Palace.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

@@Raven Rawne, @@Moon Dancer.

 

"Hmm...?" As she stopped eating again and swallowed this time. "My butt mark? Oh I'm a blacksmith, I run the Skyfallen in Canterlot. Though the embers will be very cold when I get back home. But... I am also a very powerful pyromancer, so that will be no issue." She seemed very proud of her skills and job.

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Mentis Soliloquy, @@Moon Dancer.,

 

Crystal nodded out of politeness at the unicorn's remark, and mentaly braced for something nasty when she asked about the other unicorn's Cutie Mark so... bluntly.

 

She raised her eyebrows at the reply. It was actually interesting! "A Master of Metal? I thought real ones are extinct by now, replaced by those awful machines and whatnot. Good to know some ponies still know the value of honest work of a skilled individual. I thought the Empire is the last bastion of traditional trades.If you wouldn't mind, I'd gladly have a chat on our respective trades. Maybe I'll even learn something new, who knows."

 

The cherry mare had a pleasant smile on her features as she respectfully nodded to the blacksmith with her teacup before taking a sip.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

@@Raven Rawne, @@Moon Dancer.,  

 

"You'd be surprised how much work I still have these days, heck I do almost everything from smithing amour for nobles to making keys for doors, you name it I've built it when it comes to metal." She said in a rather happy tone. Looking to the other mare. "Well I hope you figure out what your make means, that sounds really sucky not knowing what it means." She then went back to eating.

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Mentis Soliloquy, @@Moon Dancer.,

 

Crystal seemed to have caught a river of a topic, and cheered up instantly. "I know right? it's just so great when a client comes to you and asks for something totally different from the usual fair! Like, when the Palace ordered to build the Crystal Express, the whole Guild was suddenly hitting the books on the subject. It was so exciting, making something entirely new..." She leaned towards the blacksmith and said in a quieter tone: "I made the doors and windows, and we all put our Shop marks under the plow on the front."

 

The crystal mare leaned back in her seat, smiling. "I love my job."

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

@@Raven Rawne, @@Moon Dancer.,  

 

"That is cool about the plow there Crystal, fancy having all the craftponies names on that thing, I would of blazed my name in the side of the engine like a signature I'd want everyone to know I made it. But that's just me and I don't build trains." She giggled. "Well you are more than welcome mare who has a silly name." Sticking her tongue out in a rather childish manner, but there was no malice behind her actions merely play.

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Mentis Soliloquy, @@Moon Dancer.

 

The crystal pony observed as the mood of their gathering suddenly improved. Although the offer from "the Mare" was rather...

 

She looked down at her plates. Only tea was left, but Crystal got her fill for now. She adressed the blacksmith. "Normally that's what we would do, you know. But the order specified that the Royal Crest was the only allowed emblem on the train. But we couldn't just let it go without the makers stamp, it's a Guild law to sign ones work. So we kinda bent the rules..."

 

She looked up at a clock on a wall and said, thinking. "I kinda like the meet up idea, but I'm a bit of a workaholic so... maybe pick some later hour than today?  I guess we could crash at my place, but don't expect fancy quinine - I'm a terrible cook."

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

@@Raven Rawne, @@Moon Dancer.,

 

"I'm up for what ever I mean I am on holiday I have no time schedul but 'have fun' written in my diary for the next 2 weeks So sure, and I don't mind cooking I mean I can eat just about anything so yeah you'll have not complaints from me if we end up eating." Ember just nodded to The Mare's comments but hurried to finish of the food she had been neglecting. 

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Mentis Soliloquy, @@Moon Dancer.,

 

Crystal shook her head at M's remark. "Not really, no. Crystals are raw materials from which I create finished products, like this table.  Speaking if which,  I need to make more shot glasses... I have only one."

 

She rest her elbows on  the table and thought about something,  staring at her tea.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

@@Raven Rawne, @@Moon Dancer.

 

"Well I don't live here so I have no idea about the houses and such but I am staying at a rather nice hotel, it is a bit more on the pricey side of things, but I am staying in a more up market room so they may have something less expensive if money is a issue." Trying to help with at least short term living.

[Raven Rawne 1,381]

@@Mentis Soliloquy,@@Moon Dancer.,

 

Crystal shook her head off whatever she was thinking about and glanced at both her companions. She recalled the question as the blacksmith told M about the place she stays in. The crystal mare nodded, and chipped in.

 

"Northern Star is on the pricier end, yes, but if I recall correctly, they do have some three star rooms too. The whole hotel business exploded because of the Games, and with a steady flow of guests and visitors, they seem to be doing fine. I mean, mostly the higher end ones, since we seem to be becoming a sort of season attraction for the rich ponies who don't like winter. Or love winter, depends on the current season. Now you can meet the former." She looked up at M, trying to assess her budget but drawing a blank. "Now I don't know what price range we're looking at, so it would help of you told me what you're looking for in a hotel. And as far as houses go, you should check in the Palace. The new laws make it that the State controls the exchange of real state and farm land, to avoid waking up with a huge Manehattan-Style tower where a modest house once stood. The ponies put their sale offers there too, so it's all in one place. That's how I bought mine."